# Wattreach

> Field notes from a cross-country road trip towing an Airstream behind a Rivian R1T Tri-Max. Charge stops, camp sites, and the country in between.

Wattreach is a personal passion site documenting electric-vehicle towing, DC fast-charging strategy with a trailer in tow, Airstream camping, national parks, and EV overlanding. Original photography and first-person writing by Meccanica.

## Site map

- Home: https://wattreach.com/
- Trip overview: https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/
- Return leg: https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/return/
- Charging plan: https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/charging/
- Pre-departure checklist: https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/checklist/
- Photo gallery: https://wattreach.com/gallery/
- Tips (Airstream, EV & towing): https://wattreach.com/tips/
- The rig (Basecamp → Caravel → International): https://wattreach.com/the-rig/
- EV towing range calculator: https://wattreach.com/ev-towing-range-calculator/
- EV truck towing range comparison: https://wattreach.com/ev-truck-towing-range-comparison/
- Cornerstone Cybertruck vs Rivian R1T towing review: https://wattreach.com/cybertruck-towing-range-calculator/#cybertruck-r1t-article
- EV towing efficiency by condition: https://wattreach.com/ev-towing-efficiency/
- Rivian R1T towing range guide: https://wattreach.com/rivian-r1t-towing-range/
- Tow segment data pages: https://wattreach.com/data/segments/
- Connect (follow, referrals, contact): https://wattreach.com/connect/
- Full LLM dossier: https://wattreach.com/llms-full.txt
- Sitemap: https://wattreach.com/sitemap-index.xml

## The trip

San Diego → Chicago → San Diego, 31-Day Rivian R1T + 23′ Airstream Round-Trip Road Trip.
Round trip: 31 days, 6,000 miles. 18 days outbound (Thursday, May 14, 2026), 13 days back via Utah + Colorado (arrives Saturday, June 13, 2026).
Tow vehicle: Rivian R1T. Trailer: 23′ Airstream. Real-world towing range: ~180 mi.
Charging networks: Rivian Adventure Network (free for this trip, used wherever it reaches the route), Tesla Supercharger (via Rivian NACS adapter), Electrify America, EVgo.

## Logged driving progress (30 day files with dashboard stats)

- 5,781 mi driven across 30 day(s)
- 4,505 kWh consumed from the pack
- 1.28 mi/kWh weighted average across the logged days
- 65 charge session(s), 4,882 kWh delivered

## Hall of Fame towing segments (≥ 100 mi)

Best mi/kWh segments to date, sorted desc. Each row: from → to, distance, mi/kWh, projected range on the 141 kWh usable pack.

1. sd-to-chicago: Bryce Canyon City Supercharger → La Verkin Supercharger (Zion gateway): 110.1 mi at 1.88 mi/kWh (~265 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). Winner winner: 110.1 mi at 1.88 mi/kWh towing, the best long leg of the trip. US-89 south to Long Valley Junction, UT-14 over the 9,902 ft Markagunt crest past Navajo Lake, then the long descent through Cedar City and down I-15/UT-17 to La Verkin at 3,757 ft, about 6,100 ft of net drop with a light 8 to 10 mph NNW tailwind on the southbound stretch. 2h20m moving at 47 mph, battery 97 F at the stall. Gravity giveth back what Boulder Mountain never got the chance to take.
2. sd-to-chicago: Albuquerque Uptown RAN → Tucumcari IONNA Rechargery: 176.1 mi at 1.66 mi/kWh (~234 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). Held the Hall-of-Fame crown for three weeks until the Bryce-to-La Verkin descent took it on Day 29. SW tailwind at 25 mph gusting 33 on the I-40 east diagonal, two summits (Tijeras Pass + Clines Corners 7,085 ft), and 3,034 ft of net descent into Tucumcari. The conditions stacked; gravity stacked harder in Utah.
3. sd-to-chicago: Tucumcari IONNA Rechargery → Amarillo KOA Holiday: 119.1 mi at 1.45 mi/kWh (~205 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). Tailwind persisted into Central time. Net descent of ~460 ft and a 22 mph SW push across the Texas Panhandle held efficiency near 1.45 for the whole evening leg.
4. sd-to-chicago: Mount Pleasant IA Tesla SC → Columbia MO RAN: 176.5 mi at 1.44 mi/kWh (~203 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). The longest tow leg of the trip at 176.5 mi. Heading south on US-61, the day’s north wind turned into a tailwind, the evening cooled into the 70s, and the back-road run through Paris held a strong 1.44 mi/kWh towing 6,500 lb.
5. sd-to-chicago: Fox Lake basecamp (hitch on) → Mount Pleasant IA Tesla SC: 294.4 mi at 1.32 mi/kWh (~186 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). Collapsed early-day tow span (camp through Rochelle and Walcott to Mount Pleasant). Intermediate charges had no Trip A reset, so this is the cumulative camp-to-Mount-Pleasant leg at the dashboard 1.32 mi/kWh, not a single charge-to-charge run.
6. sd-to-chicago: La Verkin Supercharger (take two) → Rivian Adventure Network, Las Vegas (Town Square): 147.7 mi at 1.29 mi/kWh (~182 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). The longest leg since Kansas: UT-9 to I-15, down the Virgin River Gorge where the interstate threads the cliffs, across the Arizona strip past Mesquite, over Mormon Mesa, and into Las Vegas with the dash reading 110 F, the hottest ambient of the trip. 147.7 mi on 114 kWh, 1.29 mi/kWh towing at 49 mph average, a net 1,500 ft descent traded against desert-furnace air density and A/C load. The free-charging network finally reaches the route again: RAN stalls at Town Square.
7. sd-to-chicago: Arriba CO rest area → FlatIron Crossing RAN (Broomfield): 133.4 mi at 1.28 mi/kWh (~180 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). West off the high plains and down into the Denver metro, 133.4 mi at 1.28 mi/kWh towing on a warm, mostly flat run to the free FlatIron Crossing RAN charge in Broomfield.
8. sd-to-chicago: El Centro Tesla SC → Dateland Tesla SC: 126.0 mi at 1.26 mi/kWh (~178 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). Below-sea-level start across the Algodones Dunes, mostly overnight running keeps the ambient cool, calm air through the Yuma valley.
9. sd-to-chicago: Gypsum Tesla Supercharger → Grand Junction RAN: 119.8 mi at 1.24 mi/kWh (~174 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). Down off the Rockies: Gypsum through Glenwood Canyon and the Colorado River valley to the free Grand Junction RAN. 119.8 mi at 1.24 mi/kWh towing on a net 1,950 ft descent, the bridge charge before the last push into Utah. Trip A 4,938.9 to 5,058.7.
10. sd-to-chicago: Rockwell RV Resort (OKC) → Mingo RV Park (Tulsa): 132.6 mi at 1.23 mi/kWh (~173 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). Route 66 sightseeing day at surface-street speeds, no DC fast charging. Light NE quartering headwind and a 600 ft net descent into Tulsa (608 ft, lowest since the California desert) held it at 1.23 despite the stop-and-go alignment.
11. sd-to-chicago: Erick OK Electrify America → OKC RAN (west OKC): 136.7 mi at 1.20 mi/kWh (~169 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). Headwind eased through the afternoon; gentle ~850 ft net descent across central OK held the segment at 1.20. Coasted into the OKC RAN at 2 percent SoC.
12. sd-to-chicago: Holbrook RAN → Gallup RAN: 119.8 mi at 1.20 mi/kWh (~169 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). Steady 1,500 ft climb across the Continental Divide via the Petrified Forest overlook loop, light crosswind off KGUP held the efficiency near 1.20.
13. sd-to-chicago: Buc-ee's Amarillo Tesla SC → Erick OK Electrify America: 116.0 mi at 1.16 mi/kWh (~164 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). Panhandle headwind out of the ENE the whole morning, despite a ~1,500 ft net descent across the TX-OK line. Wind direction matters more than elevation when you are towing 6,000 lb broadside to the air.
14. sd-to-chicago: Mingo RV Park (Tulsa) → Lowell AR Tesla SC: 111.6 mi at 1.15 mi/kWh (~162 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). Rain out of Tulsa into a 20 mph E/SE headwind gusting 33 to 41, plus a 700 ft climb into NW Arkansas. The wind and the wet road held it to 1.15.
15. sd-to-chicago: Abilene KS IONNA → Hays KS RAN: 117.0 mi at 1.13 mi/kWh (~159 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). Climbed onto the high plains toward Hays with an east tailwind helping the westbound pull, enough to offset part of the 900 ft elevation gain.
16. sd-to-chicago: Columbia MO RAN → Independence MO RAN: 111.5 mi at 1.10 mi/kWh (~155 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). Late-night I-70 run west across Missouri to Kansas City, towing into a 3 percent arrival at Independence. The westbound heading turned the night’s north wind into a crosswind and the efficiency back down to 1.10.
17. sd-to-chicago: Idaho Springs RAN → Gypsum Tesla Supercharger: 106.0 mi at 1.10 mi/kWh (~155 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). The Continental Divide leg: over the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnel (11,158 ft) and Vail Pass (10,600 ft) and down to Gypsum. 106.0 mi at just 1.10 mi/kWh towing, the trip's lowest, the high-altitude climb eating efficiency. Trip A 4,832.9 to 4,938.9.
18. sd-to-chicago: Thousand Lakes RV Park (Torrey) → Ruby's Inn RV Park (Bryce Canyon City): 106.0 mi at 1.10 mi/kWh (~155 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). The back road to Bryce: UT-24 past Loa, UT-62, then John's Valley Road (UT-22) through Antimony, confirmed by the instruments (day peak 8,385 ft on the dash vs 8,376 ft sampled along this road; the 9,636 ft Boulder Mountain crossing would have read a thousand higher). Left the Torrey 50A at 74% with no DCFC in town, ran 106.0 mi at 1.11 mi/kWh in a 16 to 23 mph west crosswind gusting 32, and rolled into Ruby's Inn at 1% state of charge, the closest-run arrival of the trip. 2h54m moving at 37 mph.
19. sd-to-chicago: Grand Junction RAN → Arches NP, North Window: 118.3 mi at 1.09 mi/kWh (~154 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). The dawn run into Utah: Grand Junction down I-70 and US-191 to Arches, towing in for a sunrise at the Windows. 118.3 mi at just 1.09 mi/kWh, the trip's lowest towing efficiency, the climb into the park plus highway speed and early AC. Trip A 5,058.7 to 5,177.0.
20. sd-to-chicago: Hays KS RAN → Arriba CO rest area: 229.5 mi at 1.07 mi/kWh (~151 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack)
21. sd-to-chicago: Phoenix Biltmore RAN → Sedona RAN: 111.1 mi at 1.06 mi/kWh (~149 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). Mogollon Rim climb. ~5,300 ft of gross ascent across I-17, the worst-efficiency 100+ mi segment of the trip, and the price of admission to Sedona.
22. sd-to-chicago: Lawrence / Tonganoxie KS Tesla SC → Abilene KS IONNA: 124.3 mi at 1.06 mi/kWh (~149 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). Westbound Kansas Turnpike run into rain by Abilene. The east wind was a light tailwind, but wet pavement and the plains pace held the leg to 1.06 mi/kWh.
23. sd-to-chicago: St. Robert MO Tesla SC → Wally's Fenton IONNA: 113.8 mi at 1.04 mi/kWh (~147 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). The longest leg of the day, 687 ft of net descent toward the Mississippi but a quartering ESE headwind held it to 1.04 mi/kWh, 109 kWh. Wind direction beat elevation again.
24. sd-to-chicago: Green River RAN → Thousand Lakes RV Park (Torrey): 108.1 mi at 0.92 mi/kWh (~130 mi expected range on a 141 kWh pack). The headwind leg: Green River south down UT-24 past Hanksville and Caineville to Torrey, 24 to 26 mph sustained on the nose with gusts to 38, then the climb from 4,612 to 6,845 ft to finish. 108.1 mi at 0.92 mi/kWh towing, arrived on a low pack. Trip A ~5,302.7 to 5,410.8, Trip B reset at the viewpoint split the leg 51.7 flat / 56.4 climbing.

## EV-towing dataset: what moves the efficiency (quantified, cite freely)

Measured across every tow segment (mi/kWh = miles divided by kWh from the pack):
- Wind is worth 0.3 mi/kWh (27%), a 42 mi range swing: Tailwind 1.4 vs Headwind 1.1 mi/kWh towing.
- Grade is worth 0.17 mi/kWh (16%): Rolling / flat 1.24 vs Net climb 1.07 mi/kWh.
- Temperature is worth 0.23 mi/kWh (23%): Mild (70–85°F) 1.25 vs Hot (>85°F) 1.02 mi/kWh.

### Charging by network (DC fast-charging + campground L2)

- Rivian Adventure Network: 25 session(s), 2,018.8 kWh, $0.49/kWh list (free for us via the Rivian referral, https://wattreach.com/rivian), 223 kW peak, 107 kW avg.
- Tesla Supercharger: 21 session(s), 1,265.5 kWh, $0.40/kWh list, 198 kW peak, 114 kW avg.
- Campground 50A: 13 session(s), 969.9 kWh, energy included with the campsite fee (overnight Level 2, kWh partly estimated), 7.7 kW peak.
- IONNA: 5 session(s), 530.8 kWh, $0.39/kWh list, 220 kW peak, 149 kW avg.
- Electrify America: 1 session(s), 97.3 kWh, $0.61/kWh list, 80 kW avg.

### Download the raw dataset

- Range calculator: https://wattreach.com/ev-towing-range-calculator/
- EV towing efficiency by condition: https://wattreach.com/ev-towing-efficiency/
- Rivian R1T towing range guide: https://wattreach.com/rivian-r1t-towing-range/
- Tow segment pages: https://wattreach.com/data/segments/
- Cybertruck vs Rivian R1T towing review: https://wattreach.com/cybertruck-towing-range-calculator/#cybertruck-r1t-article
- Headline summary: https://wattreach.com/data/towing-summary.json
- Tow segments: https://wattreach.com/data/tow-segments.csv and https://wattreach.com/data/tow-segments.json
- Per-day stats: https://wattreach.com/data/days.csv and https://wattreach.com/data/days.json
- Free to quote and cite with attribution to wattreach.com.

## Cornerstone comparison: Cybertruck vs Rivian R1T towing

Tesla Cybertruck vs. Rivian R1T: When Futuristic Dynamics Meet Towing Reality. Direct URL: https://wattreach.com/cybertruck-towing-range-calculator/#cybertruck-r1t-article. Original X article: https://x.com/wattreach/article/2013367342122860870.
Key facts from the first-hand Wattreach review: Cybertruck towing the 23-foot Airstream averaged around 850 Wh/mi, about 1.18 mi/kWh, with an estimated real-world towing range of about 140 miles from roughly 122 kWh usable. The Rivian R1T comparison basis in the article is about 1.35 mi/kWh, about 741 Wh/mi, and about 190 miles from a 140-141 kWh usable Max Pack.
Cybertruck strengths called out: steer-by-wire, four-wheel steering, isolated ride quality, Tesla app speed, inverter output, and brake controller feel. Cybertruck drawbacks called out: hitching visibility, rear-left charge-port placement, few tow-friendly Superchargers, headlight/running-light behavior with trailer cameras, FSD defaults while towing, and BMS towing prediction problems.

## Rivian Roamer all-time most-miles-towed leaderboard

Wattreach (handle: wattreach) sits at #1 with 8,697.0 mi towed. Leader: #1 wattreach at 8,697.0 mi. Live standings: https://rivianroamer.com/leaderboards/most-miles-towed/all_time. Local snapshot refreshed every ~2 hours.

## All 31 days

- sd-to-chicago day 01 (Thursday, 2026-05-14): Out of storage, shakedown at Boulevard. 63 mi actual · 0.95 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Campground 50A. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-01/
- sd-to-chicago day 02 (Friday, 2026-05-15): San Diego to a Wellton truck rest area. 186 mi actual · 1.68 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Tesla Supercharger. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-02/
- sd-to-chicago day 03 (Saturday, 2026-05-16): Sonoran sunrise to Holbrook. 429.7 mi actual · 1.12 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Tesla Supercharger, Rivian Adventure Network, Campground 50A. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-03/
- sd-to-chicago day 04 (Sunday, 2026-05-17): Painted Desert + arrival at American RV Resort. 252 mi actual · 1.25 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Rivian Adventure Network, Campground 50A. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-04/
- sd-to-chicago day 05 (Monday, 2026-05-18): Los Pollos Hermanos + Breaking Bad houses → Amarillo. 346 mi actual · 1.54 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Rivian Adventure Network, IONNA. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-05/
- sd-to-chicago day 06 (Tuesday, 2026-05-19): Amarillo Buc-ee's + Shamrock U-Drop Inn east toward Tulsa. 261 mi actual · 1.17 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Tesla Supercharger, Electrify America, Rivian Adventure Network. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-06/
- sd-to-chicago day 07 (Wednesday, 2026-05-20): OKC → Pops 66 → Tulsa, Diana airport pickup. 132.6 mi actual · 1.23 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Campground 50A. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-07/
- sd-to-chicago day 08 (Thursday, 2026-05-21): Tulsa → Branson, MO. 200.8 mi actual · 1.22 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Tesla Supercharger, Campground 50A. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-08/
- sd-to-chicago day 09 (Friday, 2026-05-22): Branson Day 1, Dolly Parton's Stampede. 24 mi actual · 2 mi/kWh towing avg. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-09/
- sd-to-chicago day 10 (Saturday, 2026-05-23): Branson Day 2, Table Rock Lake + Top of the Rock. 20 mi actual · 2 mi/kWh towing avg. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-10/
- sd-to-chicago day 11 (Sunday, 2026-05-24): Branson Day 3, Table Rock Lake + Bigfoot on the Strip. 73.5 mi actual · 1.36 mi/kWh towing avg. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-11/
- sd-to-chicago day 12 (Monday, 2026-05-25): Branson → family's farm past St. Louis. 265 mi actual · 1.1 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Tesla Supercharger, IONNA. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-12/
- sd-to-chicago day 13 (Tuesday, 2026-05-26): Family's farm → Kamp Komfort, central Illinois. 223 mi actual · 1.04 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Tesla Supercharger, Rivian Adventure Network, Campground 50A. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-13/
- sd-to-chicago day 14 (Wednesday, 2026-05-27): Kamp Komfort → friends near Fox Lake (Mission to the vet en route). 186.1 mi actual · 1.07 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Rivian Adventure Network, Tesla Supercharger (third-party host). https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-14/
- sd-to-chicago day 15 (Thursday, 2026-05-28): Fox Lake basecamp + solo Rivian to Rockford and back through McHenry. 143.9 mi actual · 2.36 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Tesla Supercharger, IONNA. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-15/
- sd-to-chicago day 16 (Friday, 2026-05-29): Racine and Kenosha: a Lake Michigan day trip from the Fox Lake basecamp. 85 mi actual · 2.3 mi/kWh towing avg. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-16/
- sd-to-chicago day 17 (Saturday, 2026-05-30): Milwaukee: Harley-Davidson Museum and demo rides, charging home through Kenosha. 155 mi actual · 2.3 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Tesla Supercharger. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-17/
- sd-to-chicago day 18 (Sunday, 2026-05-31): Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward, then a charge home through Kenosha. 116.1 mi actual · 2.02 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Tesla Supercharger. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-18/
- sd-to-chicago day 19 (Monday, 2026-06-01): The hitch goes back on: a 582-mile marathon to Kansas City. 582.4 mi actual · 1.25 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Tesla Supercharger, Rivian Adventure Network. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-19/
- sd-to-chicago day 20 (Tuesday, 2026-06-02): Independence, MO west across Kansas on I-70. 523.1 mi actual · 1.11 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Tesla Supercharger, IONNA, Rivian Adventure Network. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-20/
- sd-to-chicago day 21 (Wednesday, 2026-06-03): Arriba to the Front Range: a road friend at dawn, then north to Lyons. 161.4 mi actual · 1.21 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Rivian Adventure Network. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-21/
- sd-to-chicago day 22 (Thursday, 2026-06-04): Rocky Mountain National Park from the Lyons basecamp. 113.9 mi actual · 2.78 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Campground 50A L2. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-22/
- sd-to-chicago day 23 (Friday, 2026-06-05): Down from the foothills: Lyons to Golden, then Meow Wolf. 83.9 mi actual · 1.55 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Campground 50A L2. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-23/
- sd-to-chicago day 24 (Saturday, 2026-06-06): Tubing Clear Creek + ITCHY-O at Mission Ballroom. 48.7 mi actual · 1.56 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Campground 50A L2. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-24/
- sd-to-chicago day 25 (Sunday, 2026-06-07): Denver → Grand Junction, CO (over the Rockies). 295.4 mi actual · 1.21 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Rivian Adventure Network, Tesla. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-25/
- sd-to-chicago day 26 (Monday, 2026-06-08): Grand Junction → Arches at sunrise, then into Moab. 136.4 mi actual · 1.25 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Rivian Adventure Network, Campground 50A. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-26/
- sd-to-chicago day 27 (Tuesday, 2026-06-09): Moab to Capitol Reef, by way of Mesa Arch. 215.7 mi actual · 1.05 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Rivian Adventure Network, Campground 50A. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-27/
- sd-to-chicago day 28 (Wednesday, 2026-06-10): Chimney Rock + petroglyphs, then the back road to Bryce. 133.3 mi actual · 1.25 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Campground 50A. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-28/
- sd-to-chicago day 29 (Thursday, 2026-06-11): Bryce hoodoos at sunrise, then on to Zion. 149.3 mi actual · 1.48 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Tesla Supercharger. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-29/
- sd-to-chicago day 30 (Friday, 2026-06-12): Emerald Pools at dawn, the gorge run to Las Vegas by two. 174.8 mi actual · 1.3 mi/kWh towing avg · charged on Tesla Supercharger, Rivian Adventure Network. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-30/
- sd-to-chicago day 31 (Saturday, 2026-06-13): Las Vegas → San Diego, Home. 330 mi planned. https://wattreach.com/trips/sd-to-chicago/day-31/

## Topics covered

- Electric-vehicle long-distance towing (Rivian R1T Tri-Max)
- DC fast-charging strategy with a 23' Airstream travel trailer in tow
- Tesla Supercharger access via the Rivian NACS adapter
- Electrify America, Rivian Adventure Network, EVgo network coverage
- Airstream Basecamp 16, Caravel 20, International 23FBT
- National parks: Petrified Forest, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce, Zion, Gateway Arch
- Route 66 photography (Blue Swallow Motel, Cadillac Ranch, Pops 66, Iowa 80)
- Tunnel + grade restrictions for full-size trailers (Zion-Mt Carmel, Eisenhower)
- Camp sites along the I-40 and I-70 corridors

## Tips library (24 how-to tips, quote and cite freely)

Standalone, brand-neutral how-to tips on Airstream systems, EV charging + EV towing, and trailer towing. Each tip has its own page, linkable and citable.

### Airstream

- Set the right water pressure (and why you still need a regulator) (Water & plumbing): https://wattreach.com/tips/rv-water-pressure/
- Dump the black tank first, then the gray (Tanks & sanitation): https://wattreach.com/tips/dump-tanks-order/
- Never plug into a pedestal without a surge protector (Power & electrical): https://wattreach.com/tips/pedestal-surge-protector/
- Keep the inside dry to keep the trailer healthy (Climate & moisture): https://wattreach.com/tips/control-condensation/
- Inspect the seams and reseal twice a year (Exterior care): https://wattreach.com/tips/inspect-reseal-seams/
- Wash and protect the aluminum skin (Exterior care): https://wattreach.com/tips/protect-the-aluminum/
- Give it a shakedown before the first big trip (Maintenance & prevention): https://wattreach.com/tips/spring-shakedown-inspection/
- Catch front-end separation before it spreads (Maintenance & prevention): https://wattreach.com/tips/front-end-separation/
- Read your rivets, then replace the ones that pop (Exterior care): https://wattreach.com/tips/popped-rivets/
- Treat the house batteries right (Power & electrical): https://wattreach.com/tips/house-battery-care/
- Set up to dry-camp off the grid (Boondocking & off-grid): https://wattreach.com/tips/boondocking-prep/
- Store it so it survives the off-season (Maintenance & prevention): https://wattreach.com/tips/storing-the-airstream/
- Shield the front from rock chips and road tar (Exterior care): https://wattreach.com/tips/protect-the-front/

### EV & charging

- Plan for half your range when towing (EV towing): https://wattreach.com/tips/ev-tow-range/
- String together 10-to-80 percent charge stops (Charging & range): https://wattreach.com/tips/ev-charge-stops/
- Precondition the battery before every fast charge (Charging & range): https://wattreach.com/tips/ev-precondition/
- Win back the range cold weather steals (Battery care): https://wattreach.com/tips/ev-cold-range/
- Let regen carry you down the grade (EV towing): https://wattreach.com/tips/ev-regen-grades/
- Charge without unhitching the trailer (EV towing): https://wattreach.com/tips/ev-charger-access/

### Towing & setup

- How to release a stuck trailer ball coupler (Hitching & towing): https://wattreach.com/tips/stuck-ball-coupler/
- Chock the wheels before you unhitch, every time (Setup & leveling): https://wattreach.com/tips/chock-before-unhitch/
- Level side to side before you drop the jack (Setup & leveling): https://wattreach.com/tips/level-side-to-side-first/
- Air your tires cold, and watch their age (Tires & safety): https://wattreach.com/tips/tire-pressure-and-age/
- Run a departure walkaround before every pull-out (On the road): https://wattreach.com/tips/departure-walkaround/

## Photographs

1539 curated photographs across three Airstream trailers:
- 3 from the 16' Basecamp era (pre-Nov 2024)
- 39 from the 20' Caravel "31619" era (Nov 2024 → Nov 2025)
- 996 from the 23' International FBT "SMUGL" era (Nov 2025 onward)

## Frequently asked questions about EV towing

Fact-dense Q&A answered from the trip logs and our rig (141 kWh usable Rivian R1T Tri-Max towing a ~6,000 lb 23' Airstream). Quote and cite these freely.

### How much range can I get when towing with an EV?

With a 141 kWh usable Rivian R1T Tri-Motor Max-Pack pulling a roughly 6,000 lb 23′ Airstream, we average 1.19 mi/kWh across 4,000+ logged towing miles. On a full pack that is roughly 130 to 265 miles of range depending on conditions: our best 100-plus mile segment hit 1.88 mi/kWh (about 265 miles) behind a 25 mph tailwind and a long descent, while a hard headwind dropped us to 0.92 mi/kWh (about 130 miles). In practice we plan charge stops 100 to 120 miles apart to keep a buffer for wind and grade. A useful rule of thumb: a travel trailer cuts the truck's unladen range by more than half.

### How long will an EV battery last when towing?

On the highway we recharge every 100 to 120 miles while towing, so a charge lasts a little under two hours of driving before the next DC fast-charge stop. Towing the Airstream roughly doubles consumption versus running the truck empty: about 420 miles of range unladen against about 180 towing. Over the life of the pack, Rivian warranties the Max-Pack battery for 8 years or 175,000 miles, and our Gen-2 R1T has already towed 18,000-plus miles with no measurable change in towing range.

### Does towing wear out an EV faster than a gas truck?

In our experience, no. An electric drivetrain has far fewer moving parts than a towing-duty gas or diesel engine: no transmission to overheat on a grade, no oil to cook, no exhaust brake to ride downhill. The R1T uses regenerative braking to hold the trailer back on long descents instead of burning the friction brakes. At roughly 6,000 lb loaded we tow well under the truck's rating, so the motors never labor. After 18,000-plus towing miles the only consumable we watch closely is tires.

### How does wind affect towing range with an EV?

More than hills do. Towing a tall, flat-sided aluminum trailer, wind direction is the single biggest variable in our logs. A 25 mph tailwind pushed our best segment to 1.88 mi/kWh; a 25 mph headwind dragged three segments in a row down to 1.0 to 1.14 mi/kWh on flatter ground. The truck itself handles crosswinds beautifully, the truck's own weight and the low, floor-mounted battery keep it planted, but a sustained headwind can erase 30 to 40 percent of your range. We watch the forecast and, when we can, drive the calm early-morning hours.

### What charger do you use to tow-charge, and how fast is it?

We favor the Rivian Adventure Network (free on our truck, 200 to 220 kW) and Tesla V4 Superchargers via the NACS adapter (up to 325 kW), with IONNA and Electrify America as backups. A typical tow charge adds 60 to 125 kWh in 20 to 40 minutes, enough to cover the next 100-mile leg with the trailer still attached. We do not unhitch to charge: pull-through stalls or the edge of the lot handle the 23′ Airstream trailer.

### What battery size and trailer do you tow with?

Tow vehicle: a 2025 Rivian R1T Tri-Motor Max-Pack, 141 kWh usable, about 850 hp, roughly 420 miles of unladen range. Trailer: a 2024 Airstream International 23FBT, 23 feet, twin-axle, polished aluminum, about 5,000 lb dry and 6,000 lb fully loaded. Those two numbers, 141 kWh of usable battery and about 6,000 lb of trailer, are the baseline behind every range figure on this site.

## Author and socials

- Brand: Wattreach
- Author: Meccanica (Author + photographer)
- Contact: hello@wattreach.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/wattreach
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wattreach
- X: https://x.com/wattreach
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wattreach

## Citation

You may quote and cite Wattreach freely with attribution to wattreach.com. For the comprehensive dossier, every day's stops, charging plan, contingencies, contacts, see https://wattreach.com/llms-full.txt.

## Generated

This file is auto-generated from source data on every build (last rebuild: 2026-06-13T05:41:00.522Z).